Triplane ID

Breguet · 21 June 2006, 05:05 AM

Someone sent me this - can anyone ID it? I think it is French.

Maxim08 · 21 June 2006, 07:27 AM

I can't make it out clearly, but it looks like the gear consists of floats or skids/skis. Can you clarify?
Regards,
Maxim08

Varese2002 · 21 June 2006, 12:30 PM

This may be a unique picture of the one-and-only Voisin Triplane 1916 in flight, which first flew in 1919 and then disappeared into limbo.

This is not a 100% identification, but it comes very close. I cannot identify the undercarriage, the picture is not clear enough for identification.

Varese

Breguet · 21 June 2006, 03:16 PM

Looking at your picture I'd say you're spot on though the one in flight definitely seems to be on floats!

Varese2002 · 21 June 2006, 09:48 PM

It is unlikely that this is a floatplane, because I see only one "blob" at the right in a position that will not give it any possibility to float or land on water (too low, the fuselage would be in the water). It seems to be more on the side of the fuselage. Further their is nothing to stabilize the wings or the tail, pontoons or something like that.

As the picture is so unsharp, I guess it is a still from a film of the Voisin machine flying, made at that time.

The mysterious object to the right can be an object used in the test flights, might be extra payload / cargo

.

This is all highly speculative, but not being a seaplane technician, I do not think this machine could start or land on water.

This is another view of the Voisin Triplane 1916, spot on from the (wrong) side. For the item we needed a shot from the other side .......

Varese

Varese2002 · 23 June 2006, 01:21 PM

For sure this can only be the Voisin Triplane 1916, officially known as the Voisin E.28. But on none of the existing photographs of this machine their is anything to be seen that resembles the blob on the right of the fuselage on the photo.

The Voisin E.28 in flight

On looking still closer on the supplied picture I see a wrinkle tail on the end of the blob. On the same side of the fuselage can be seen the 3 central landing gears.

My best guess at the moment is that the blob is a thing that had to be dropped in flight, possibly for festivities (14th July 1919 ?) with a parachute and extra guirlandes. By the way there is a picture of the Voisin E.28 dated May 29th 1919 at Issy-les-Moulineaux.

Varese

Machinbird · 25 June 2006, 10:39 PM

Am I the only one who thinks that that tadpole shape under this aircraft is primarily associated with the nose gear? There seems to be a second shape in approximate line further aft that creates the "tail" portion of the tadpole.

Varese2002 · 26 June 2006, 12:35 PM

Machinbird I think you are perfectly right.
As you stated this must be the nose gear with in the back the 3 wheel landing gear right and left. Obviously as in the pictures. I was on the wrong foot as at first I saw the blob and the winkle were connected to each other

Varese

TomVrille · 27 June 2006, 05:38 PM

FWIW there's a nice review of the large Voisin triplanes in French Aircraft of the First World War by Davilla and Soltan. The Voisin Triplane of 1915 was proposed as a heavy bomber, but was considered unduly vulnerable to antiaircraft fire, and was not pursued further. It was, however, the first four-engined aircraft to fly in France. Power was provided by four 270 hp Salmson radials. The wing structure and arrangement was retained in the E.28 which used four 220 hp Hispano 8Bc engines. In addition to several photos, 3-view drawings of both the 1915 Triplane bomber and E.28 are presented.